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North vs Bosse Bulldogs - at Bundrant Stadium Aug 17, 2012

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Offense

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Game Recap

HUSKIES CHRISTEN BUNDRANT STADIUM WITH 55-33 WIN OVER BOSSE

With over 5,000 people in the stands to celebrate the grand opening of Bundrant Stadium, an opponent eager to break a 15 game losing streak to the Huskies, and a starting quarterback just five months removed from major knee surgery, North’s football team might have had reason to feel some extra pressure in Friday night’s season opener.   That pressure became apparent over the course of the game’s first 12 minutes of play and it appeared that Bosse might break their streak and spoil North’s opening night festivities.

Before the game was three minutes old, the Huskies had:

• ·         Turned the ball over on a fumble on just their second play from scrimmage.

• ·         Recovered a fumble when Bosse’s center snapped the ball over the quarterback’s head on the ensuing play.

• ·         Driven 50 yards for a score—with the final 38 yards coming on a Blake Howell run.

• ·         Yielded an 80 yard touchdown run to the Bulldogs on their first play from scrimmage after the North TD.

The Huskies appeared to “right the ship” after giving up the long run.  Quarterback Max Mooney’s knee looked to be up-to-the-task of running the offense when he led North on an eight play, 71 yard drive that culminated with a Duvante Lane 2 yard plunge.  Zac Turi kicked his second extra point with 5:46 to play in the first quarter and North had a 14-6 lead.

SOME NEW PLAYERS EMERGE EARLY

Despite the hectic pace of the opening minutes, a few key observations could be made.  For one thing, the offensive line had to be substantially rebuilt over the offseason due to graduation and injuries and the “new” line appeared to come together quickly.  With North utilizing both the “I” formation and the “Show-Gun” (a modified version of the traditional “Shotgun”), the running game had generated 125 yards of offense on just 13 attempts.

It also became apparent that despite graduating last season’s fastest, most exciting player in Ty Pauley (an All-City, All-SIAC receiver and defensive back), a pair of fast sophomore players displayed offensive talents that will apparently go a long way to fill the hole left by Pauley’s departure.  Wide receiver and wing back Chase Whitler had key runs on both scoring drives—including a 30 yard run to set up Lane’s score and running back Ford Johnson made his presence felt with a 45 yard kick off return.  As the game wore on, both players would continue to make their “Lightning Strike” capabilities felt.

RETURNING STARS MAKE THEIR PRESENCE KNOWN

The story wasn’t just about the new players, however, because some familiar faces also made high profile plays in the early going.  Returning first team All-SIAC linebacker Drew Watters stopped Bosse’s star running back dead in his tracks on first down at the 41 yard line.  On second down, after Dylan Simmons got a hand on the running back, it was Watters who again laid him out after a very short gain.  On third down, 2011 first team All-City defensive end “Big” Mike Johnson swatted down a pass at the line of scrimmage to force a Bosse punt.

SPECIAL TEAMS DISASTER

North gained a first down when they got the ball back, but a pair of incomplete passes brought out the punt team with just 1:20 to play in the quarter.  The snap was on the money to the punter, but one of the Bosse ends blew past a blocker untouched and smothered the punt.  The ball bounced to the North 3 yard line where the Bulldogs recovered.  Two plays later, the score was 14-13 despite Bosse having failed to gain a single first down in the quarter.

SECOND QUARTER

The Husky offensive line refused to buckle under the pressure of having to block against a mobile defensive unit in an odd “Three-Five” alignment.  In particular, both offensive tackles were getting off the ball fast and making excellent blocks against their opponents.  Seniors Damion Boatman and Logan Mullen played at a level far above their experience throughout the game and they played key roles in the ensuing drive that opened the second quarter.

When Ford Johnson returned the kickoff to midfield, the Huskies had great field position to “answer” the Bosse score.  With Boatman and Mullen routinely nailing the ends and TE Drew Watters providing seal blocks against the linebackers, the Huskies went on a 15 play drive that ate up 7:30 off the clock.  Watters “milked” a pass interference call against the Bulldogs on a critical 3^rd & 18 at the 30 yard line and Lane got his second touchdown of the game on a dive play behind blocks by center Dylan Simmons and guard Dylan Powell.  Turi’s kick made the score 21-13 midway through the quarter.

OGBURN’S BIG SERIES

Throughout the game, kicker Sam Daywalt ‘boomed’ kickoffs deep into the Bosse end zone (he would record FOUR touchbacks on the night) and Bosse was pinned back deep in their own territory when they took over.  6’1” 260 lb tackle Antwan Ogburn is a newcomer to the North defensive line.  Tasked with filling the shoes of graduated All-SIAC performer Damon Byars, Ogburn certainly chose a good time to show that he is up to the task.  On first down, the big tackle threw Bosse’s star running back to the ground for a three yard loss.  On 3^rd down and long, Ogburn blocked a pass that forced another Bulldog punt.

HOWELL GOES OVER 100 YARDS IN THE FIRST HALF

Senior Blake Howell already ranked among the school’s top 15 rushers when the game started.  He has 1,435 in his first two varsity seasons and six career one-hundred yard rushing games.  When North took over after the Bosse punt, he already had 98 yards rushing in the game.  As the line continued to best the Bulldog defense, Howell looked to be running ‘down hill’ as the Huskies marched toward the goal line.

The ball sat at the Bosse 19 after a Chase Whitler ‘end around’ running play converted a critical 4^th and 3.  Mooney took the snap and handed off to Howell who began working his way to the right on a sweep.  Both Boatman and Ogburn “pulled” to lead the runner around the end and they cleared the way of defenders.  Just inside the right hash mark, Howell changed directions and cut back toward the center of the field.  He broke a tackle and was then free and running in the Bosse defensive secondary.  No one touched him after that point and he scampered in for a 19 yard touchdown and 121 yards rushing in the first half alone.  Turi’s kick gave North a 28-13 lead with just 33 seconds to play in the half.

LIGHTNING STRIKES

Daywalt’s “touch back” kickoff again hemmed Bosse in at their 20 yard line.  The Bulldogs’ star runner then broke off a pair of long runs on dive plays into the center of the line and North’s defense was standing on its own 29 yard line with 6 seconds to play.  A deep pass down the right hand side line was complete at the two yard line and the receiver managed to fall out of bounds and stop the clock with just 1 second to play.  Bosse scored on the next play and went into half time trailing by just 9 points despite having been outplayed in every measurable aspect of the game.

THIRD QUARTER--LIGHTNING STRIKES (AGAIN?!?!)

Bosse’s return man caught the opening kickoff of the second half at the two yard line.  North’s outside containment fell apart the runner got into open space along the sideline and he raced all the way to the end zone.  In just 58 seconds of playing time, North’s commanding 28-13 lead had been sliced to just 28-26.  The difference in the game was just two missed extra points when Bosse kicked off.

Howell returned the kick to the 40 yard line and then rambled for 17 yards on his first carry.  A bit winded after the return and the run, he gave way to Mike Johnson.  “Big” Mike followed Drew Watters around right end on the next play, ran over one would-be tackler, and bounced outside on his way to the Bosse 23.  Unfortunately, the ball came loose and the Bulldogs recovered.

BOSSE RETURNS THE FAVOR (AGAIN?!?!)

Just as had happened in the game’s opening minutes, so too did it happen in the third quarter.  Following the fumble recovery, on Bosse’s very first play the center again snapped the ball over the head of the quarterback.  This was no short toss, however, and the ball sailed from the 23 all the way to the end zone.  Defensive end Brock Underwood led a pack of Huskies and recovered the loose ball just before it rolled out of bounds.  The recovery gave North a touchdown, Turi’s extra point made the score 35-26, and Bosse had to wonder where their momentum had gone.

DEEEE-FENSE

Daywalt kicked off for another touchback and starting from their 20, the Bulldogs weren’t ready for what hit them next.  Defensive tackle Teddy Wilbourn stormed through the line and tackled the Bosse running back for a 4 yard loss.  Linebacker Duvante Lane correctly read a screen pass and nailed the running back for a 3 yard loss.  “Big” Mike Johnson flushed the quarterback out of the pocket on 3^rd down and Watters nailed him before he went five yards. 

Bosse’s center had his third miscue of the game on fourth down and appeared to “take a divot” with the ball as he tried to send it back to the punter.  The ball hit one of the blocking backs and North stuffed the unexpected runner dead in his tracks to take over possession at the Bosse 13.

The right side of North’s offensive line blew up the Bosse defense two plays later and “Big” Mike waltzed into the end zone for his first score of the season.  After the kick, North opened up a 42-26 lead.

ONE MORE STAND

The Huskies pretty much ended the contest with their next defensive stand.  Sophomore Jayden Beshears combined with Johnson to throw Bosse’s star running back for a loss on first down.  Teddy Wilbourn sacked the quarterback for a five yard loss on second down.  Safety Curran Davis dealt a timely blow to a receiver to break up a sure fire first-down pass and forced Bosse to bring out the punt team yet again.

For all intents and purposes, the game was over at that point.  All the fire had gone out of the Bulldogs and the fight was waning as well.

Whitler caught a 33 yard pass on North’s next possession to set up Howell’s third touchdown of the game.  It was North 48 Bosse 26 when the game entered the fourth quarter.

FOURTH QUARTER

Ford Johnson entered the game when North next got the ball and he flashed a bit of brilliance that may foreshadow things to come.  Comparatively small in stature at 5’9” 160 lbs., Ford carried a heavy load easily on North’s final scoring drive.  Taking the handoff on four consecutive running plays that began at the Bosse 42, Johnson gained all 58 yards in the drive and hammered the final nail into Bosse’s coffin with 10:30 to play.  Turi’s 7^th extra point kick of the night made the score 55-26.

Despite a late desperation touchdown by Bosse’s varsity as they played against the Husky JayVee defense, North dominated every aspect of the game.  18 first downs to just five for the Bulldogs, a whopping 431 yards rushing compared to just 124 for Bosse, and a time-of-possession advantage that measured 29:20 to 18:40 all told the story of a thorough domination.

CONCLUSION

It was certainly a night that will be long remembered by everyone in attendance.  The celebration that preceded the game, the appearance of former coaches and a bevy of star players from the past, and the site of honorary captains Morris Riley, Mike Madriaga, and Scott Riley all made for a star-studded evening.  On the field, it was a mixture of familiar faces and new ones that exposed Bosse’s weaknesses and overcame North’s miscues to capitalize on scoring opportunities.

The offensive line of Damion Boatman, Antwan Ogburn, Dylan Simmons, Dylan Powell, Logan Mullen, and Drew Watters opened massive holes that led to another 400 yard rushing night.  Blake Howell joined North legends Kendall O’Donnell, Derenzo Bushrod, and Cornell Garrett as the only men to ever have as many as THREE career 200 yard rushing games.  Teddy Wilbourn, Mike Johnson, and Duvante Lane all demonstrated the awesome physical talent that the North defensive front seven returns to the grid iron.  Sophomores Chase Whitler and Ford Johnson combined for over 200 yards of total offense while handling the ball just 16 times—that’s an average of 12.5 yards gained every time they touched the ball by rushing, receiving, or returning kicks.

If Bundrant Stadium was the true “star” of the evening with all the associated excitement that it generated, perhaps no performance was more more overlooked than the gutsy, gritty work of quarterback Max Mooney.  After suffering an injury that causes most professional players to miss the following season, Mooney was back at the helm of the Husky offense and led it with aplomb.  There were signs of some rustiness, but there was no denying the outcome:  He led an offense that put up 55 points, generated 500 yards of total offense, and took more than his share of hits.  The hardest “hit” of the night came when “Mad Max” ran down a Bosse runner after an interception.  In that moment, Mooney proved to all who watched the game that he could “give” as good as he took.  As the team looks ahead to Henderson County, his continued recovery could spell good things for the Huskies.

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